Since its UK inception in 2016 with a modest team of around 30, technology transformation specialist Servita has experienced remarkable growth, now boasting a staff of 180 and continuing to expand. The company’s core mission is to empower organizations to navigate and overcome entrenched operational methods by leveraging cutting-edge science and technology, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and human-focused results.
People-Centric Innovation at the Forefront
At the heart of Servita’s approach is a philosophy that balances technological advancement with human experience. UK Managing Director Rich Story articulates this guiding principle clearly: “Keeping ourselves and our customers at the forefront of science and technology, while remembering it is people that remain at the center of transformation, is our modus operandi.” This ethos permeates Servita’s diverse range of capabilities.
Expertise in Design, Cloud, and Intelligent Automation
The company excels in user-centered design, maintaining strong connections with the UK’s Government Digital Service. Furthermore, Servita possesses deep expertise in developing advanced, highly secure, high-performance, and, notably, sustainable cloud-hosted solutions. Indeed, sustainable cloud practices and achieving carbon net zero are not mere afterthoughts but are embedded as core technical architecture principles within the company.
Beyond cloud solutions, Servita demonstrates strong competencies in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. This expertise is further underscored by team members who have published research papers in collaboration with Harvard University on natural language and semantic programming, highlighting a commitment to academic rigor alongside practical application.
Strategic Partnerships for National Impact
Servita’s engagement with the UK public sector has been significantly bolstered by its participation in the Vivace community since 2020 and its involvement with the Accelerated Capability Environment (ACE). Explaining the synergy, Story remarked on what drew Servita to ACE: “A community of suppliers that gets access to novel problems at the heart of government, facilitated by an organization that seeks to create an environment to innovate whilst keeping a firm eye on time, cost, and outcomes—it really chimed with us.”
Delivering Critical Solutions for Government and Health
This collaboration has led to Servita’s involvement in critical national projects. One early and major undertaking saw the company working as part of the ACE core team on the UK government’s COVID-19 response, where they helped drive an innovation agenda aligned with strategic objectives. Reflecting on this intense period, Story described it as “one of the best things I’ve been part of during my career,” despite the challenging circumstances.
Further demonstrating their impact, Servita delivered a digital tool for a health commission designed to measure and report on “digital deficit.” This innovative solution enables organizations to understand their current digital maturity in relation to industry standards and to accurately forecast the investment required to achieve their digital transformation goals. Moreover, Servita remains an integral component of ACE’s broader work with the National Health Service (NHS). In a landmark project, the company built and currently maintains a national data information exchange system. This vital piece of infrastructure links the entire secondary care landscape in England directly to the NHS App, facilitating seamless information flow and enhancing patient care.
The ACE Advantage: Swift, Meaningful, and Transformative
The partnership with ACE offers distinct advantages that resonate deeply with Servita’s operational values. “We love the efficiency in tendering and speed to impact for delivery,” Story noted. He highlighted that “ACE looks to deliver outcomes in 12-15 weeks, which is good for the government and the taxpayer.” This rapid delivery model ensures that solutions are implemented quickly, providing timely benefits.
Fostering Pride Through Purposeful Projects
However, the appeal of ACE extends beyond efficiency. “Most of all we love the types of projects ACE gives us access to,” Story continued. “As a business, it’s led to us having some of our best case references, and it’s critical for us to be able to give our staff access to projects that really make a difference, as it gives us an identity and sense of pride.” This access to impactful work is crucial for employee engagement and reinforces Servita’s reputation as a leader in delivering meaningful change.
Reaffirming the company’s guiding principles, Story stated, “Our mission statement is to keep ourselves and our partners at the cutting edge of science and technology with a focus on sustainable solutions for good and delivery excellence.”
Solidifying Mission and Growth Through Collaboration
He credits the collaborative environment fostered by ACE and Vivace for enabling Servita to adhere to this mission. “I can honestly say that ACE and Vivace have enabled us to stay true to this by virtue of the novel and important problem spaces that they give us access to,” he concluded. “ACE has introduced us to new customers and also to other like-minded suppliers that we have forged valuable relationships with. These things have all been significant in shaping our business. “
Through such strategic alliances and a steadfast commitment to innovation and sustainability, Servita continues to play a pivotal role in the technological evolution of the UK’s public and private sectors.
